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A lucky koala has been nicknamed “Bear Grylls” after sustaining just a few scratches in a high-speed collision with a car at night in southern Australia, the driver and wildlife rescuers said.
The male marsupial became wedged between the car’s bumper and front grilles after it was hit crossing the South Eastern Freeway about 20 kilometres south-east of Adelaide on Tuesday night, said driver Loren Davis.
In the darkness with no street lights, a car travelling behind her and another alongside at the speed limit of 100kmh, Davis saw the native animal in her headlights and hit the brakes but could not avoid hitting it.
“I had no choice but to hit the koala without causing three cars to be in an accident,” Davis said.
READ MORE: Nearly 700 koalas euthanised because of overpopulation in southeastern Australia
Shaken and upset, the real estate agent said she pulled over but was unable to see the koala and drove back home in 10 minutes.
“Once I got into the garage at home, I turned on the lights and saw... the koala,” she said.
“I was really upset. First I thought it was dead... and (my fianci) ran out and said ’he’s alive, he’s alive’ because he was moving his head and his arm.”
The koala - which she later called “Bear Grylls” after the British adventurer and television host -- was hanging out of the car front.
WATCH: Koala makes surprise visit to Australian hospital
Anne Bigham, a wildlife volunteer and koala hotline operator for Fauna Rescue of South Australia, said her husband drove to Davis’s home to take the animal to an emergency veterinarian, where it was found to be in “really good condition... other than a couple of little grazes”.
“Bear Grylls”, which Bigham said weighed about 11 kilogrammes (24 pounds) and was around four years old, was recovering well and living in her home with seven other rescued koalas, enjoying a diet of fresh eucalyptus leaves.
Grylls will be released back into the wild near where he was hit on Friday.
Bigham said she receives at least one call a day on average about incidents involving koalas and vehicles within the state, with the risk of accidents increasing during the current breeding season.
Koala populations in Queensland and New South Wales, as well as in the Australian Capital Territory, are listed by the national government as vulnerable.
 


How much can a koala bear? Take a look at ‘Bear Grylls’ who survived a high-speed car impact

This Australian koala, which has since been nicknamed 'Bear Grylls’ after the British  adventurer and television host was found hanging out of a car front after surviving a high-speed impact. Photo: Michael Hughes

No hugs for cuddly koalas at Hong Kong's Ocean Park

Dougie, one of three koalas at Ocean Park, enjoys the exhibit space modelled on the South Australian outback.Photo: May Tse

Australia brings ‘koala diplomacy’ to bear at G20 

Jimbelung, a two-year-old koala, is held in the media center at the G20 Summit in Brisbane. Photo: Reuters

US President Barack Obama laughs as he holds a koala while Prime Minister of Australia Tony Abbott looks on at the sidelines of the G-20 summit. Photo: AP

U.S. President Barack Obama, right, and Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott hold koalas during a photo opportunity on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Brisbane, Australia. Photo: AP

Republic of Korea's President Park Geun-hye with 'Jimbelung' the koala in Brisbane. Photo: AFP

Russia's President Putin holds a koala before the G20 Leaders' Summit. Photo: Reuters

Peng Liyuan, wife of China's President Xi Jinping, cuddles a koala at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Photo: Reuters

Margie Abbott, wife of Tony Abbott, Prime Ninister of Australia, holds a koala while on a spouse visit to a koala sanctuary. Photo: EPA

German Chancellor Merkel patting a koala held by Australia's PM Abbott. Photo: Reuters

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